Cartridge magazine follower for automatic pistols



July 1 2, 1960 D. R. SMITH ET 2,9 5

CARTRIDGE; MAGAZINE FOLLOWER FOR AUTOMATIC PIsToLs Filed May 15, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 170M440 8 644/771 004/440 451 5 00/471535ATTORNEY July 12, 1960 D. R. SMITH ET L CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE FOL-LOWER FORAUTOMATIC PISTOLS Filed May 15, 1958 2 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTORS ATTORNEY"into-the chamber, the damage thereto in considerable shootinginaccuracy.

Patented July 12, 1960 2,944,357 7 CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE FOLLOWER FOR IAUTOMATIC PISTQLS v 7 Donald R. Smith, Sierra Madre, and Donald B. H.Coates,

Pasadena, Calif., 'assignors to Western Follower Corporation, Gardena,Califl, a corporation of California Filed May 15, 1958, Ser. No. 735,4392' Claims. (CI. 42-50 I This invention relates to firearms and moreparticularly to an improved follower for replacing the follower utilizedin conventional cartridge magazines or clips for automatic weapons.

As is Well known, automatic pistols as well as many other automaticweapons are commonly supplied with a cartridge magazine or clip which isremovably received in the grip of the pistol or other magazine receivingrecess, the magazine operating to hold a plurality of cartridges whichare fed upwardly by a compression spring and follower, the cartridgesbeing removed from the magazine one at a time and introduced into thechamber of the weapon.

The conventional cartridge magazine is a generally rectangular tubehaving a length and width slightly greater than the length and diameterrespectively of the cartridges to be received therein and the open upperend of the magazine is partially closed by inwardly extendingoverhanging portions of the opposite sidewalls which engage theuppermost cartridge in the magazine and preventinadvertent ejectionthereof from such magazine; The weapon slide operates to engage'theuppermost cartridge in the magazine and slide the same axially from theupper end of the magazine into the weapon chamber and it has been foundthat with conventional magazines and followers, that the last cartridgetherein is frequently damaged as the same is moved into the weaponchamber, or the same may become jammed between the'weapon slide and thechamber. This either results in failure of the weapon to operateproperly or in the event the cartridge is forced frequently results Ithas been noted that the above malfunctions'oc'cur most frequently withthe last cartridge in the" magazine and the reason for this appears tobe the fact that previous cartridges in the'magazine are engaged andsupported by the next following cartridge which serves to raise the sameinto a position approaching the axis of the weapon chamber. Since thefollower found in the conventional magazine is provided with a flatcartridge'engaging surface,

the last cartridge is elevated to a position lower than the previouscartridge, the difference in height being equal to the added elevationprovided'by' the curvature of the cartridge engaging another cartridge.".Such additional elevation is not available from the flat surface of theconventional follower and consequently the last cartridge when ejectedfrom the magazine will be at a lower level than the precedingcartridg'esJ Consequently, the last v cartridge in the magazine will bespaced an appreciable distance below the axis of thelweapon chamber withthe result that such cartridge must enter'the chamberat an appreciableangle'which results in the above mentioned a damage thereto and frequentjamming;

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide afollower for conventional cartridge magazines forautomatic, weaponswhich may, be utilized to conveniently replacethe conventional-followerand which is 7 provided with an arcuate 'cartridgeengaging upper surfacehaving substantially the same radius as the cartridge engaged thereby,which follower operates to elevate the last cartridge in the magazine tosubstantially the same posi: tion as previous cartridges in themagazine, a 7 I 1 A. further object of the invention isthe'provisroiiof-a followeri for the cartridge magazine of an automaticweapon which follower operates to eliminate damage to the last cartridgein thermagazine and jamming thereof between the weapon slide and thechamber.-

(A still further object of the invention is the provision I of afollower for the cartridge magazine of automatic weapons whichiisinterchangeable in every respect with the conventional follower suppliedwith such magazine but which operates to position the last cartridge inthe magazine at substantially the same elevation with respect to thecenter line of the weapon chamber as precedingcarf: tridges in themagazine. Another object of the invention is the provision of, afollower for the cartridge magazine of automatic weapons in which theupper cartridge engaging surface of the follower is formed on a radiusto provide the same engagement between the last cartridge and thefollower as between adjacent cartridges in the magazine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a follower for thecartridge magazine of automatic weapons, which follower may beconveniently and economically constructed from readily availablematerials by a casting or machining operation or if desired, from sheetmaterial by a stamping operation, such follower being interchangeablewith the conventional follower normally supplied With such magazine.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and in sectionfor greater clarityand showing a conventional automatic weapon magazinehaving a follower constructed in accordance with this inventioninstalledtherein and showing a cartridge in place prior to ejection fromthe magazine;

Fig. 2 a side elevational view of a follower constructed tion from themagazine and showing the difference in elevation of the cartridgeresulting from the arcuate cartridge engaging surface on the follower; Hv Fig. 7 a side elevational view showing a modified follower formed ofsheet metal and having a downwardly curved forward end; Fig. 8' a frontelevational view similar to Fig. 4, bu showing a modified form ofcartridgejengaging upper surface; a a p p 7 Fig.9 a view similar to Fig.8, and showing a further modified form of cartridge engaging uppersurface; and Fig. 10 a view similar to Fig.- 2,-and showing a stillfurther modified form of cartridge engaging upper surface. Withcontinued reference to the drawing, there is shown in Figs. 1 and -6 aconventional cartridge magazine 10 of the type commonly. supplied witha' United States Model 1911 and l911A-I' .45 caliber automatic pistoland the magazine 10 is generally rectangular in cross section and oftubular formation. The magazine 1 0 is.- closed at the lower end bya-plate .11 and received-within, the magazine 10 is a compression spring12 which en--- gages a follower 13 which in turn, engages a cartridge14. While only one cartridge 14 is shown in themagaof the follower shownin t-ion as"that'shownariddesicii'ibedi a 7 i I zine in'Figi 1, itisto'beunderstood, that a plurality of cartridges may be received thereinand that the compression spring 12 and follower 713' will serve to feedsuch caft'ridge's upwardly in the magazine as the same are removedtherefrom and loaded into'the' chamber of ithefpistolj f j j The. upperend 'ot thej aga'zine 10 is open and the'side- Iwalls IS' atfthehippeiend are benfinwardlvtoward Jeach other to engage the cartridge14 as shownint F'rgll,

and prevent ejection therefrom upwardly ofthernagazine 10 3.'I'hefr'ontwall 16 of tlie magaiine ltlis 'cut away at the upperend'toprovideanopening l'l'thr'ou'ghwhich I the cartridge may beejectedin anaxial direction by th action or the slide on thepistoL''Ihi's operation is entirely convennenari n all pistols o'f'this typeand with magazines of theftypeshow'nfi l With particular reference toFigs. 2 to S; the follower generally indicated at13, which cdnstitutesthe s ultxject matter of this invention Comprises an integral one-piecemember having a cartridge engaging portion'18,:which extends obliquely'acro'sssubstantially the entire width of the magazine; and an angularor obliquelyfextending, 'positioning and guiding tang 19 which tanghas aflat outer surface 20 for slidably engaging the inner surface ofth'e're'anwall 21 of the magazine it) as clearly shown magazine 10 and withthe conventional flat follower normally supplied with magazines of thistype, the upper cartridge engaging surface of the follower in itsuppermost position would be substantially in alignment with 1 the dottedline 26 as shown in Fig. 6. However; even though the follower 1310f;this invention stops at the same. point inits .upward movementjinthechamber 10%" neverthelessydue to the 'curvaturezof the cartridgeengagingsurface 24 of the follower 13; the cartridge 14'will' i- 10 be movedlupwardly to a position substantially 7 abov in? position occupied.byl'the cartridgeengaged by. the iconyentionalflat follower andthis'dilference in height denoted in Fig. 6{as Consequently, it will beseen thatg due to this difi'erencein height, ofthe position of the lasta cartridge that thefsame will be more nearly in line with the chamberof the pistol and that consequently the cartridge will be supported andguided to move intothe chamber. in more nearly: astraight. line thanwould-,be the case with a cartridgesupported; by 'a flat conventionalfollower with the result that. damage to the cartridge and jamming ofthe same between the slide and the chamber is substantially eliminated.The follower of this invention may veniently replace the conventionalfollower commonly also provided with the conventional cut-out. lip 25'having a porti'orii extending parallel to, Said 'cartridge engagingportion 18 for engaging andicooperating with the magazineloclca-ndsafety mechanism of the pistol up'onin- "s'e'r'tion' of themagazine 10 therein. .While the cartridge engaging portion-18 of'thefollower. 1'3 has-been shown "in the drawing as g a relatively thicksolid member, if is to-*be understoo'd 'that' if desired, theentire-follower 13 supplied with automatic weaponv magazines-of the'type under consideration and such replacement-may be made without inanyWay modifying the magazine or follower spring. In making thisreplacement it is only necessary to' compress the spring and remove theconventional follower, after which the follower of this invention may beinserted. and the spring released. While the invention has been shownand described in connection wit-1 a cartridge magazine for av UnitedStates Modelll9'l'l and 19llA-l .45' caliber automatic pistol it is tobe understood that this is for illustrative purposes only; andv that a':follower' incorporating the principles OfflllS invention 7 may also'beutilizedtiri magazines.for many otherauto tang 29 similar to the tang.19 0f the? aboverde'seribed ma be manufactured as a metal stamping-, inwhich case, the lower spring engaging s urface 22 it thef 'llower -=1-'3would' in all rprobability'g beconcave; rather} than flat e as shown.il-lowever, thegarcuate or convex; upper cartridgeengagingsurface24'would be of the same forma- The. follower of this invention operatesin the same except-"the-last one in'the magazine; the-action of theexperienced with the last cartridge inthe. magazine and jthefollowerconstruction of thisdnventionserves to eliminate thisdifficultyand 'theoperation of the follower of this invention forthispurpose will now be described }with particular reference to Figs. 1'aud o: As shown iirFig. 1, the -la'st-lcartridge- 14in the magazihedt)is in position'to be ejected from the magazine 10 and' rno ved'iiitofthe} chamberof the pistol; For thispur'pose, aslide i n fn i l asmg rearend' of the: cartridge l t and moves thesame axially through theopening 17 in the front wall '16 of thfe magazine 10'and out 'ofthemagae and into'the chamben'of'thepistol'. 'As shown in Y6; upon mevementof i the cartridge -14 out of' engagement with the overhanging.sidewalls 1510f the magazine 10,- the-compression spring 12 'andfollo'wer 13' will e'rate to mov nie cartridge 14' upwardly' to theposifi 0n-Shdwniln" El g: 6, whereupon continued-movement of the 'cartiidge willload th'esame into the chamber ofthe *pistoltf "Upwardmovement:of} the follow'er 13- in the magazine10is determinedbyflengagementoftlie follower 7 fitlF-the overhanging sidewalls or retaining lips 15*of "the manner as a conventional follower forfeeding} cartridges f a f.14 upwardly in the magazinelO and witlrall cartridges) niatic weapons.7 a a i Withparticular reference to Fig. 7 there i's shown a slightlymodified. form of magazineifollower' 2t having 'a form of the inventionanda cartridge. engagingportionr T30 having a convex upper: cartridgeengaging surface; 31 7 corresponding to the cartridge engaging.surface-24 of the above'described formofi theinvention; In the formshown in-'Fig.. 7, the entire follower '28 is formed} from] sheetmetaliby a suitablestamping or other-operatidn and' as a result, thelower surface 32 of; the cartridge en'g ag ing portion 30 which engages:the conventionalmagazine follower springis concave.

'In addition to being formedzfronn sheet metal, rather than as a castingor 'machinedrfrom-solidstock as'in-the 'above'describedform oftheinvention;thefformshowngin' Fig. 7 is also provided withadownwardlvcunved forward end or nose portion 33-whichserves tofacilitate insertion of cartridges into the magazine when: loading thesame. This downwardly curved'nose or'forward portion 33 does not in anyway {alter the operation'of the fol: lower in placing a cartridge inproper position for move-' ment into the chamber ofthe automaticpistolor other i weapon since obviously at least "a half of the nose portion 33 disposed adjacent to themajor body portion 30 constitutes an operableextension of the surface 3t withi respect' to its cartridge" supportingand. function. 'With the exception of facilitating theinsertion. of'car: tridges into the magazine, the form of the invention l shown inFig. 7 operatesinth'e same mannerr'as the-:fo'rm of the invention firstdescribed;

'Whilethe above? described forinsof the' inventionpro- With parti'eularreference to' Figefh-there isishown olbe utilized to conlower 34constructed in accordance with this invention and having a tang 35 forengaging the magazine and a cartridge engaging portion 36, including anelongated boss 37 having a convex upper cartridge engaging surface 38and in which the sides 39 of the boss 37 are positioned inwardly of theside edges 40 of the cartridge engaging portion 36 of the follower 34.In this form of the invention, the surface 38 engages the last cartridgein the magazine and operates in the same manner as the followers abovedescribed.

With reference to Fig. 9, there is shown a follower 41 having a magazineengaging tang 42 and a cartridge engaging portion 43. The cartridgeengaging portion 43 includes an elongated boss 44 of generallytriangular configuration and extending from the opposite side edges 45of the follower 41 and also having an arcuate apex 46 for engaging thelast cartridge in the magazine. The operation of this form of theinvention as shown in Fig. 9 is the same as that described above.

The further modified form of the invention shown in Fig. comprises afollower 47 having a magazine engaging tang 48 and a cartridge engagingportion 49. An elongated boss 50, generally triangular in cross section,is provided on the cartridge engaging portion 49 and it is to be notedfrom an inspection of Fig. 10, that the triangular boss 50 is of lesswidth and terminates inwardly of the side edges 51 of the follower 47and furthermore,

the boss 50 is provided with a convex or arcuate apex 52 for engagingthe last cartridge in the magazine. This follower also operates in thesame manner as those described above.

Consequently, it will be obvious that followers incorporating theprinciples of this invention may be manufactured by casting, machiningor stamping and that the cartridge engaging portion thereof mayincorporate different configurations as described above.

It will be seen that by the above described invention there has beenprovided a relatively simple and economical follower for automaticweapon magazines which may be conveniently constructed and utilized toreplace conventional followers and which will operate to eliminate thedifliculties now experienced, particularly in connection with the lastcartridge in the magazine.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isshown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only asindicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v

l. A one-piece magazine follower, particularly adapted for use in asingle column cartridge magazine of an auto- .matic type pistol,comprising an elongated body member the terminal end of said oppositeend of the said body member extending beyond said lip member, the saidbody member being of such a length that it is adapted, when mounted foruse, to extend obliquely across substantially the entire width of themagazine, the cartridge-engaging surface of said elongated body memberbeing non-planar in cross-section, said non-planar cross-section havinga maximum height in the medial plane of said body member and above theplane of said edges, said maximum height corresponding to the radialdimension of a cartridge with which the follower is adapted to be usedwhereby the follower, when magazine-mounted, is adapted to lift acartridge when the latter is free of the conventional cartridgeretaining lips of the magazine to a position appreciably above themagazine body.

2. A one-piece cartridge magazine follower constructed of sheet metal,particularly adapted for use in a single column cartridge magazine of anautomatic type pistol, comprising an elongated body member havingthereon a cartridge-engaging surface, a positioning and guiding tangmember at one end of said body member extending obliqueing thereto andin a direction opposite to said cartridge-engaging surface, a cut-outlip member depending from the opposite end of said body member, saidtang member, lip member and elongated body member being common to agiven plane passing through said members, the terminal end of saidopposite end of the body member extending beyond said lip member andcurving slightly downwardly toward said lip to form a nose memberadapted to facilitate cartridge loading in the magazine, said elongatedbody member, lip member and tang member being common to a given planepassing through said members, the outer edges of said elongated bodyadjacent said cartridge-engaging surface lying in a plane normal to saidgiven plane, the cartridge-engaging surface of said elongated bodymember being non-planar having thereon a cartridge-engaging surface, apositioning and guiding tang member at one end of said body memberextending obliquely thereto and in a direction opposite to saidcartridge-engaging surface, a cut-out lip member depending from theopposite end of said body member, said tang member, lip member andelongated body member being common to a given .plane passing throughsaid members, the outer edges of said elongated body member lying in aplane normal to said given plane,

in cross-section, said non-planar cross-section having a maximum heightin the medial plane of said body member and above the normal plane ofsaid edges, said maximum height corresponding to the radial dimension ofa cartridge with which the follower is adapted to be used whereby thefollower, when magazine-mounted, is adapted to lift a cartridge when thelatter is free of the conventional cartridge retaining lips of themagazine to a position appreciably above the magazine body.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

